Monday, March 02, 2009

Lather, rinse, repeat

One of the many things I love about Hillary Clinton (and please realize that the list is long and impressive and substantial before we even get to this one thing) is her hair. Yes, her hair. It's not that she has don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful hair, per se. It's because she has real hair. You never know exactly what you're going to get. Girlfriend is like us. Some days her hair is all, "Get it, girl!" and other days her hair is all, "Girl, no." It's just so endearing it makes me want to hug her and talk about health care reform.

Now I realize the inherent pitfalls in talking about such an accomplished woman's hair. No one talks about President Obama's hair (it's lovely and the salt and pepper only make it more so) or John McCain's lack of hair (it's less lovely, considerably so). This discussion of hair is in no way a requisite when discussing women. I loathe how women's bodies and dress are more critiqued than men's, as much as I loathe myself for sometimes falling into the same sorry gender traps. This discussion isn't meant as a substitute for something substantive. And my lack of discussion of men's appearance on these pages can largely be attributed to my lack of discussion of men on these pages, period. I talk about the ladies, that's what I do.

So, now that all that's been said, seriously – the hair. Some days it's sleek and fabulous. Some days it's poofy and helmety. Other days it's flat and exhausted. It's hair, like our hair. Good hair days, bad hair days. It's not perfect, it's real. I love that. I also love that for the most part, except for idiots like me who insist on pointing it out, folks don't care. That's how it should be. That women and men are equal should be unquestioned. That women and men are different is also simply a fact. We can celebrate our differences while not belittling our unequivocal isonomy.

And with that, how about a look at our most distinguished Madame Secretary's hair. Why? Because I love her and her hair and the fucking fantastic brain that sits underneath it all. Also, honey, what's happening in that fourth picture? Girl, no.

Go ahead, underestimate me, sucker.Kind of a hard water day, huh.I have no idea where those lesbian rumors come from.Wait, I didn't know Hill played football.Even a Yale Law grad, First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State can pick the wrong conditioner.Get it, girl!

20 comments:

i love hillary ... i would so go there, in a red-hot minute. red-hot 30 seconds actually. i also want to point out another hot blonde politician ... google on Dalia Grybauskaite and see if you don't get a little tingle. i've got a couple of pics of her here:

"I loathe how women's bodies and dress are more critiqued than men's, as much as I loathe myself for sometimes falling into the same sorry gender traps."

I've thought about that sometimes too, but the conclusion I've come to is that I'm gay so I'm allowed. Because my straight female friends spend just as much time talking about men's appearance as I do talking about women's. Now, when it comes to what's reported on in the media, that's an entirely different ballgame, of course, and it's biased and sexist and unfair, and all that bad stuff, but when it comes to me just sitting here, I'm darn well gonna think and talk about Hillary's appearance, because that's one of the (very very many) things I love about loving women, how lovely they are to look at.

Ah yes, my favorite smart lady. I still try to whip out on a weekly basis how freakin' proud I am to have been able to vote for her, even if it was only once. Bittersweet, really because, as much as I love her and sometimes look at her in all her fabulousness to remind me that I'm wonderful just for being a well-educated, kick-ass-take names woman, it always reminds me that, even though we won the race, WE lost.

Love the pictures! I think it's valid to discuss a famous politician's appearance, just among ourselves, for enjoyment. It's not like you are viciously picking her apart or judging her based on her hairstyle. The fact that we now have high-powered women in politics is just exciting. Plus, you know a lot is being made of Barack Obama's good looks among the straight ladies (okay, among some of the queer ladies, too)!

When Ann Richards died, there was a video of Hillary (Ann and Hill were tight) telling a story about Richards giving her hair advice back in Hill's much-discussed stretchy headband period. Ann told Hill that she should either go with something innocuous that no one will notice, or (miming high, dramatic, beehive do) you've got to make a statement!

I got to vote for Hillary twice...for my senator. And while I am proud of her now and love to see her on the national stage and know there is more not only good...but great...to come...I cannot help but miss Hillary too.

Once she was elected to the Senate, she did not forget about those of us who gave her a chance here in NY state...and she didn't just go to NYC every now and then for a Broadway show only to get back to DC as soon as possible.

Nope.

I cannot count the numerous times she came upstate...even when she was not up for re-election and if only our local news covered her appearance.

She did what she promised and then some. When she first ran for Senate, I was skeptical but decided it was worth it to give her the chance. Then when she ran for re-election, there was no doubt that I would vote for her again.

And I would have voted for her for president if I had gotten the chance.

I don't know how you come up with your random topics, Snarks, but this one is so right on. I love Hillary's hair, brain, pantsuits and all the rest of the package. I wish I could have voted for her one more time. Maybe that will happen yet, but meanwhile the whole world is benefitting from her talents.